There will be 24 places available, with eight participants from each White Rose University (Leeds, Sheffield, and York). 

A panel will review the applications, prioritising those participants who demonstrate they are preparing for a leadership role. 

Participants are eligible to apply to be part of the Equity in Leadership programme if they meet the following criteria: 

• They are a member of staff who are from the global majority and are at a grade 8 or above (Sheffield and Leeds) or grade 7 or above (York).  

• Aspire to a senior leadership role within the next 12-18 months.  

• They are employed at one of the White Rose universities (Leeds, Sheffield or York) for the duration of the Equity in Leadership programme (until May 2027). 

• They can commit to attending all three in-person training days. Attendance at all the following programme elements is mandatory. 

At the White Rose University Consortium, we are committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment that fosters growth for all our people. Ensuring that our programmes are accessible to everyone is a key priority for us.

If you have any concerns or factors that might hinder your access or full participation in our programmes (such as caregiving responsibilities or specific accessibility needs), please reach out to us at info@whiterose.ac.uk. We are eager to provide solutions that will enable you to fully engage with White Rose activities. 

The programme covers costs associated with participation, including travel expenses from your host institutions.

There are 24 places available across the White Rose partner universities (Leeds, Sheffield, and York). Attending this programme costs £1000 per participant, funded on your behalf by the Consortium.

Read our travel policy here.

If you have any questions, please contact info@whiterose.ac.uk

The Equity in Leadership Programme is designed to support colleagues from the global majority who aspire to progress into leadership roles. 

Your application will be assessed solely on the information provided within the application form. No CV is required or considered as part of the selection process. 

All questions are equally weighted, each scored out of 5 points, with a maximum score of 15. 

The application form covers:  

Why Equity in Leadership: (maximum 500 words per question)  

• Why do you want to join the Equity in Leadership Programme? 
  • Please tell us why you would like to participate in the Equity in Leadership Programme. In your response, reflect on your leadership journey to date, any challenges, barriers or inequalities you may have encountered, and how you have overcome them. Please also explain which aspects of the programme you believe will be most valuable in supporting your future development. 
    
    
• What are your career aspirations and leadership ambitions?
  
  • Please outline your career and leadership aspirations over the next 12–18 months and your longer-term ambitions over the next 3–5 years. Explain how participation in the programme would support these goals. 
    
    
• How have you prepared yourself for leadership?
  • Please describe the steps you have already taken to prepare yourself for leadership roles and responsibilities. 
    

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@whiterose.ac.uk

The White Rose University Consortium recognises the importance of racial and ethnic terminology and understand that individuals use different terms to identify and represent themselves.

In keeping with the commitment to co-creation for this programme, the Equity in Leadership Programme team asked all participants to vote on the term that they felt best represented them. The term global majoritiy received the most votes, as it provides a more positive perspective compared to the othering narrative of "minority groups."

• Applications open: September 2026  
• Online information session Thursday 22 October 11am-12pm
• Applications close: 23.59, Sunday 22 November 
• Assessment panel: Week beginning 7 December   
• Applicants notified: Week beginning 14 December

Core programme runs  February – April 2027 (1 day per month) 

Attendance at all the following programme days is mandatory.

• Day 1 – 2 February, Guildhall, York  
• Day 2 – 16 March, Cloth Hall Court, Leeds  
• Day 3 – 29 April, INOX, Sheffield   

Managers of participants will be invited to the Race Inclusion for Managers Training online session (90 minutes) held on Wednesday 27 January, 10:00-11:30.  

Participants may choose to take part in any of the following opportunities. All are at institutional discretion.

• Cross-institutional peer mentoring 
  Delivery period: May – October 2027 

• Sponsorship 
  Training delivered to sponsors: June 2027 
  Sponsorship begins: July 2027 

• Coaching 
  Delivery period: October 2027 – March 2028